JJalapeño popper-inspired Creamy Corn Salad has grilled corn, jalapeños, and green onions. This salad has a creamy cheese-filled dressing with plenty of spices! Crispy bacon and fresh cilantro top everything off.
8earsfresh corn on the cobgrilled, cooled, and cut from cob (about 4 cups)
4green onionsgrilled and chopped
2smalljalapeño peppersgrilled and diced
Vegetable oil
Salt and pepperto taste
1cupsour cream(fat free works great!)
1cupgood-quality mayonnaise
2ouncesfull-fat cream cheese (only 2 ounces, don't use the entire container),softened (lower fat/reduced fat tends to get watery)
2teaspoonsground cumin
1teaspoonroasted garlic powder
1teaspoonchili powder
1teaspoonpaprika(use smoked paprika for a smokier flavor)
1cupfreshly grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
1cupfreshly grated pepper jack cheese
1/3cupcooked and crumbled center-cut bacon
Freshly diced cilantrooptional
Instructions
GRILL: Preheat grill to medium heat (400 degrees F). Shuck corn and discard silks. Drizzle corn, green onions, and jalapeños with olive oil and then lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Rub the oil and salt/pepper into all sides of the veggies. Prepare the grill by cleaning and then generously oil the grill (I drench a rolled-up paper towel in vegetable oil and, holding it with tongs, rub it over the grill grates).
GRILL CONT.: Add the corn, green onions, and jalapeños to the heated grill over direct heat. Grill corn about 10-12 minutes total, rotating every 3-4 minutes until bright yellow and lightly charred. Grill green onions 1 minute, flip, and grill another minute or until lightly charred. Grill jalapeños 1-2 minutes, flip and grill another 1-2 minutes or until lightly charred. Remove veggies from grill and onto a plate to cool to room temperature.
DRESSING: Meanwhile, prepare the dressing. In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream and mayonnaise. Make sure cream cheese is at room temperature (if necessary, microwave for 30 seconds to a minute and whisk with a fork until smooth and easy to stir). Add into the sour cream and mayo mixture. Add in all of the spices: cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika. Season to taste with salt and pepper ( I add about 1/4 teaspoon of each). Stir until dressing is smooth. Grate cheeses: extra-sharp cheddar and pepper jack. Add to the dressing and stir.
FINISH: Thinly slice charred green onions, dice the jalapeños and add to salad. Cut the corn off the cob (see video for how I do it -- lay on the side and cut down -- use a sharp knife) and add to the salad. Stir together and taste -- adjust seasoning to taste and serve with crumbled bacon and fresh cilantro on top.